Explosion resistant battery cover design

Abstract

A maintenance free battery having explosion resistant characteristics for multi-celled battery containers. A battery cover has a main body with an elongate recess therein extending across its length. Within the first recess there are a plurality of vent well openings extending into the cells of the battery, and a plurality of vent plugs filling each opening which provide for the escape of gas and retard the escape of electrolyte. A recess plate fits snugly within the recess, the plate attaching to each of the vent plugs. Provisions are made to insure that the ends of the plate seal off the ends of the recess to prevent the leakage of gas between the plate ends and recess end walls.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cover for a battery container having a plurality of cells, said cover comprising: (a) a main body which mates with the walls and cellular partitions of said container and which has an elongate recess defined therein and at least one vent well disposed in said recess, said well opening into said battery container;   (b) at least one vent cap engaging said vent well; and   (c) a recess cover plate fitted within said recess having cover plate attachment means for removably attaching said plate to at least said vent cap, said attachment means comprising at least one pair of tapered tabs connected to said plate, said pair of tapered tabs slidingly engaging opposing, tapered surface portions of at least one of said caps, said tapered tabs and said tapered surface portions coacting to draw said plate towards said vent cap.   
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said tapered tabs comprises a support portion extending between said tab and the underside of said plate. 
     
     
       3. The invention of claim 2 wherein each of said tabs comprises a plurality of said support portions. 
     
     
       4. A cover for a battery container having a plurality of cells, said cover comprising: (a) a main body which mates with the walls and cellular partitions of said container having an elongate first recess defined therein, said first recess including a plurality of grooves defined at opposing ends of said recess;   (b) a plurality of spaced apart second recesses defined in said main body to communicate with said first recess;   (c) a plurality of vent wells defined in said main body for providing fluid communication between the interior of said container and each of said second recesses;   (d) a plurality of vent caps engaging said vent wells, at least one of said vent caps including a tapered portion; and   (e) a recess cover plate which fits within said first recess, said plate including: (i) projections at each end thereof to mate with said grooves to seal the ends of said recess against the escape of gas from the ends of said recess; and   (ii) attachment means for removably attaching said plate to each of said vent caps, said attachment means comprising at least one pair of tapered tabs projecting from said plate, each of said pairs slidingly engaging opposing portions of said tapered portion of at least one of said vent caps to draw said plate towards said vent cap.     
     
     
       5. The invention of claim 4 wherein at least one of said grooves is parallel and spaced apart from said end of said recess, and at least one of said projections is parallel and spaced apart from said end of said plate. 
     
     
       6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said first recess and said plate are rectangular. 
     
     
       7. The invention of claim 6 wherein each of the sides of said plate are spaced apart from the side walls of said first recess by a distance which is less than 0.005 inch.